Footy legends see world in black and white

Sixty years on, 1953 remains significant for football fans who see the world in black and white.

It was the year Port Adelaide was on the cusp of its history-making run of six SANFL premierships, a feat never bettered by any Australian Rules league club.

There was a dramatic handball in a losing grand final in 1953 and two teenagers made their debuts in that season.

Now in an ABC radio studio in Adelaide, those two former players, Neville 'Chicken' Hayes and Geof Motley, have come together to recall a time when Alberton Oval was the centre of their universe.

They grew with the salty, industrial smell of the Port in their nostrils and first met when they sat next to each other as students of Woodville High School.

The pair became firm friends and formed a strong bond on the field by playing football for their school on Saturday mornings and then for Port Adelaide colts in the afternoons.

As teenagers both were selected for the senior side.

Port was captain-coached by Fos Williams, whom Motley rates as the greatest leader of that time, or since.

"His courage was special. We were playing North Adelaide at Prospect one day and he and his opponent were both knocked cold. They took them off and at half-time he was still out to it but his arm was still swinging," he recalled.

"We thought we would play the second half without him, but he came around, shook himself off and resumed. His opponent didn't come back on."

In their first season together, the pair faced a rare setback. Port Adelaide lost the grand final to West Torrens.

Late in the game, the Magpies were close to goal when Hayes miscued on a handball, the Eagles collected the leather and went down the field to score for a win.